Blog

NELSPRUIT – Theuns Meyer het Mbombela aan die brand geskop om Hoërskool Nelspruit na ‘n geskiedkundige sege oor Hoërskool Garsfontein te lei.

Herleef al die aksie op SuperSport Schools – (www.supersportschools.com)

Die Nellie Rhino’s se losskakel het sy staal getoon deur 15 punte vanaf die skopkegel aan te teken in sy span se sege van 30-29 oor die Bere. Meyer het drie doelskoppe en drie strafdoele deur die pale geklits vir die helfte van sy span se totaal.

Die SDC Noordvaal Cup se Beker-afdeling is besig om in ‘n uiters interessante wedloop te ontwikkel, verál na die Bere se nederlaag. Die Nellies se groot name het hand opgesteek, met senter en kaptein, Ian Wood, uitstaande in die middeveld. Wood se bedrieglike voetwerk en vaart het die Bere se binnesenter en kaptein, Luann Olivier, deurgaans aan die raai gehou.

Olivier was op sy beurt een van die besoekers se uitblinkers, met sy bereidwilligheid om reguit te maak op die aanval wat telkemale vrugte afgewerp en die Bere oor die voordeellyn help kry het.

Dit was egter voorlangs waar die Rhinos die meeste beïndruk het. Dit was ‘n wonder dat agtsteman, Vaughn van Zyl, self nog van die veld kon loop, aangesien hy, soos op die Cravenweek, sy lyf op die spel geplaas het. Sy verdediging was uit die boonste rakke en hy het die Garsies deurentyd gekasty met kragtige dryfspel, wat ook aan hom ‘n drie besorg het.

Oopkantflank, Banele Ngwenya, was ‘n doring by die afbreekpunte en het keer op keer die Garsies se bal ontwrig om hul momentum te stuit.

Die Bere het egter nie gaan lê nie. Die besoekers het in die tweede helfte goeie ritme bewerk deur klipharde voorspelerspel wat die Rhinos effens onkant betrap het. Oopkantflank, Stephan Pretorius, was vernaam genadeloos op die aanval en verantwoordelik vir een van sy span se vyfpunters.

In Pretoria het Hoërskool Dr. Eg Jansen sy stempel verder afgedruk deur vir die tuisspan, Hoërskool Menlopark, met 62-22 af te ransel.

Innoverende spel tussen voor- en agterspelers het gelei tot 13 drieë aan die kant van die Arende, waarvan die Jansies se slot, Gerhard van Aswegen, vir die soveelste keer vanjaar twee gedruk het.

Losskakel, Matthew Bergman, en buitesenter, Juandre Jacobs, het deeglik gebruik gemaak van dié stewige grondslag, en het ‘n aandeel in ‘n hele paar drieë gehad.

Die Parkies se treurmare het in die tweede helfte toegeneem. Nadat hulle teen rustyd slegs 11 punte agter was, is die krane oopgedraai in die laaste 35 minute en het die Jansies nóg 36 punte teen sewe aangeteken.

Die Parkies het in die eerste helfte soms aanskoulike hardlooprugby gespeel en die Jansies dikwels laat omdraai met netjiese aanvalslyne en taktiese skopwerk deur losskakel, Logan Botha, en skrumskakel, Gustav Schaffner. Heelagter, Reinhardt Herbst, se strafdoel van sowat 50 meter was ook ‘n hoogtepunt vir die tuisskare.

Puntemakers: 

Hoërskool Nelspruit 30 (29) – Drieë: Banele Ngwenya, Vaughn van Zyl, Ian Wood. Doelskoppe: Theuns Meyer (3). Strafdoele: Meyer (3). Garsfontein 29 (0) – Drieë: Ethan van Wyk, Stephan Pretorius, Ruan Enslin, Thinus Oosthuizen, Brooklyn Newman. Doelskoppe: Junade Pasensie (2).

Dr. EG Jansen 62 (26) – Drieë: Gerhard van Aswegen (2), Divan Francis (2), Marco Ventura (2), Duwan Potgieter, Matthew Bergman, Jean-dre Claasen, Zandre Naude. Menlopark 22 (15) – Drieë: Gustav Schaffner, Wynand van Wyk, Divan Nel. Doelskoppe: Logan Botha, Reinhardt Herbst. Strafdoel: Herbst.

Ander spanne: 

o.16: Garsfontein 32, Hoërskool Nelspruit 17; Menlopark 37, Dr. EG Jansen 17.

o.15: Garsfontein 33, Hoërskool Nelspruit 8; Menlopark 29, Dr. EG Jansen 19.

o.14: Garsfontein 19, Hoërskool Nelspruit 6; Menlopark 24, Dr. EG Jansen 13.

Sanele Simelane and the Jeppe High School for Boys’ backline had a day out to remember on Saturday in Krugersdorp.

Relive all the action on SuperSport Schools – (www.supersportschools.com)

Simelane and his backline colleagues set the Ras van Rooyen Field alight as the visitors from Johannesburg ran in seven tries to beat Hoërskool Monument’s Wit Bulle 47-31.

The Jeppe captain, Kuthadzo Rasivhaga, playing in his preferred position, at outside centre, showed why the selectors gave him the green light for the SA Schools side.

His attacking prowess and outstanding ability to attack the space had the Monnas’ defenders guessing most of the match.

With Rasivhaga running riot, Simelane shone by linking up with his captain numerous times to cut through the home sides’ defences, as the Wit Bulle were stretched from side to side.

Flyhalf Matthew Coetzee pulled the strings nicely from behind a pack on the front foot, delivering the high-quality ball the two dangermen at the back needed. Coetzee also put on a kicking show, slotting a couple of difficult conversions from the touchline.

The question of whether or not Jeppe could handle the massive Monnas’ pack was answered loudly by vice-captain and eighthman, Risima Khosa, and, especially, by lock Luke Cannon. The second rower, a talented cricketer, “cannoned” into a couple of hits and bowled over the Wit Bulle.

The home side’s captain and massive second rower, Jacques Botha, had, arguably, his best outing of the year thus far. He made every run count, gaining valuable metres on several occasions.

He also ran superb support lines, which led to him crossing the whitewash twice. Monument hooker, Keenan Myners, also put in a valiant effort. He was a menace in the rucks and contributed a major shift on defence.

However, the continuous and fluent attack from the visitors was a bridge too far for a tiring Monument side to cross as Jeppe showed that they have the ability to beat anyone on any given day.

Scorers

Jeppe High School for Boys 47 (21) – Tries: Sanele Simelane (2), Risima Khosa, Leruo Dithagiso, Luke Cannon, Lindelani Nkambule, Nathan Claasen. Conversions: Matthew Coetzee (5). Kuthadzo Rasivhaga. Monument 31 (12) – Tries: Jacques Botha (2), Keenan Myners, Hanno du Toit, Kealan Milton. Conversions: Justin Viljoen (2), Cruz La Moer.

Other Results

u16A: Jeppe 21-19 Monument
u15A: Monument 45-3 Jeppe
u14A: Monument 15-3 Jeppe

The last of the pool matches at the Kearsney Soccer Tournament on Saturday included some surprises, with the defending champions, Durban High School (DHS), unbeaten after the opening day, going down 3-4 to Sutherland, and Clifton College shocking previously undefeated Siyajabula 2-1.

Paul Roos edged out Maqhutshana 2 3-2 to slip ahead of Kearsney College in the final Pool A standings.

Both teams won two games and they drew against one another, but the Boland team’s goal difference was just one better than that of the hosts.

Pinetown Boys’ High, after three victories on the opening day, had already secured top spot in Pool B, but Northwood, who drew 2-2 with Maqhutshana 1 in their last pool game, claimed second spot.

DHS, despite their setback against Sutherland, had done enough on Friday to top Pool C, but it was a very tight group. Sutherland sneaked into second place ahead of Urban Academy. Both teams finished with four points and a goal difference of nought, but Sutherland had scored six goals and Urban Academy only four.

Clifton pulled off a shock with their 2-1 defeat of Siyajabula, while Ashton International Ballito found their goal scoring form to overrun Lebone II College 4-0.

Siyajabula, though, claimed top spot in Pool D, but only on goal difference from Lebone II College and Clifton, with all three finishing on six points. Siyajabula had a plus-five goal difference, Lebone II finished with a plus-two, and Clifton at plus-one.

Then, in the Roberts Field playoffs, DHS had their title defence ended by Kearsney College, who claimed a 2-1 win. Paul Roos won by the same margin against Sutherland.

The contest between Maqhutshana 2 and Curro Hazeldean went to the penalty spot after the teams had finished level at 1-1, and Maqhutshana advanced 3-1 in the shootout.

Urban Academy blasted their way past Thomas More, slotting nine times without reply.

In the Matterson Field playoffs, Clifton, again, pulled off a stunner, outplaying Tuks 4-0. That wasn’t the biggest winning margin, though. That honour belonged to Pinetown, who cruised to a 6-0 defeat of Lebone II College.

Siyajabula kept Northwood off the score sheet, winning 2-0, and Maqhutshana 1 claimed a 4-2 win over Ashton International Ballito.

Girls’ High Schools

The girls’ pool matches also wrapped up on Saturday morning. Ashton Ballito pulled off a big win, surging to a 5-1 victory over Lebone II College, while Kloof High finished with three wins from their three outings in Pool B after a comfortable 3-0 victory over Thomas More College.

St Mary’s DSG matched Kloof’s perfect record, picking up their third Pool A win in a 2-0 defeat of Danville Park. Durban Girls’ High, meanwhile, posted a closely contested 1-0 win over Curro Hazeldean.

In the playoffs, however, Durban Girls’ High ran rampant against Lebone II College, scoring a big 8-0 victory.

Curro Hazeldean won 3-1 against Thomas More, but unbeaten St Mary’s DSG was forced into a penalty shootout by Ashton Ballito. Their game finished 1-1, and St Mary’s then advanced 3-2 from the spot.

Boys’ Primary School

In the Boys’ Primary School competition, Merchiston Prep edged out Atholl Heights 3-2 and then cruised to a 7-0 win over Reddam House Ballito to finish top of Group B with a perfect record of four wins from four matches.

Highbury Prep A topped Group A. They won their first game on Saturday, beating Ashton 4-2 but then had their clean record ended by Thomas More, who beat Highbury by exactly the same score.

With that win, Thomas More claimed second place in Group A, while Hillcrest Primary, the top goal scorers in the pool stage, with 19 goals, ended second to Merchiston in Group B.

Boys’ High School Results

Roberts Field

DHS 3-4 Sutherland
Paul Roos 3-2 Maqhutshana 2
Urban Academy 1-1 Curro Hazeldean

Matterson Field

Clifton College 2-1 Siyajabula
Northwood 2-2 Maqhutshana 1
Ashton International Ballito 4-1 Lebone II College

Roberts Field playoffs

DHS 1-2 Kearsney College
Paul Roos 2-1 Sutherland
Maqhutshana 2 (3)1-1(1) Curro Hazeldean
Urban Academy 9-0 Thomas More College

Matterson Field playoffs

Siyajabula 2-0 Northwood
Pinetown 6-0 Lebone II College
Maqhutshana 1 4-2 Ashton International Ballito
Clifton College 4-0 Tuks

Girls’ High School Results

Curro Hazeldean 0-1 Durban Girls’ High
Lebone II College 1-5 Ashton International Ballito
St Mary’s DSG 2-0 Danville Park
Thomas More College 0-3 Kloof High

Playoffs

Durban Girls’ High 8-0 Lebone II College
Thomas More College 1-3 Curro Hazeldean
St Mary’s DSG (3)1-1(2) Ashton International Ballito

Boys’ Primary Results

Merchiston Prep 3-2 Atholl Heights
Ashton International Ballito 2-4 Highbury Prep A
Hillcrest Primary 8-0 Highbury Prep B
Winston Park 1-3 Kloof Senior Primary
Merchiston Prep 7-0 Reddam House Ballito
Kloof Senior Primary 2-2 Thomas More
Reddam House Ballito 1-5 Hillcrest Primary
Thomas More 4-2 Highbury Prep A
Highbury Prep B 0-8 Atholl Heights
Winston Park 2-5 Ashton International Ballito

Paarl Gimnasium and Bristol’s Clifton College dominated their quarterfinal matches to book their places in the semifinals of the Cape Town International Hockey Tournament on Friday.

Paarl Gim breezed past Hoërskool Kempton Park, powering their way to an emphatic 8-0 victory, while Clifton College outplayed Windhoek Gymnasium 5-0 to secure their slot.

“I am very proud of the girls. They have improved as the season has progressed. We struggled a bit at the start of the season, but we have been able to improve with each game we have played,” Ian Naude, the Paarl Gim coach, said.

At the start of the season, Paarl Gim left a lot of goals on the Astro. They are now leaving fewer goals out there and finishing better. In their last seven games, Naude’s girls have scored a whopping 59 times.

After the completion of Friday’s matches, a total of 153 goals had been scored in the tournament, and 45 of those belonged to Paarl Gim. The other 19 sides had tallied 108 together. No team has come close to the level Naude’s side is playing at.

It appears as if Paarl Gim is aiming for double figures in every match. They achieved that feat against Worcester Gymnasium, overwhelming them 11-0 in their third game of the tournament.

Before their massive victory over Worcester Gim, Paarl Gim smashed 17 unanswered goals past Uppingham and Windhoek High School, winning those games 9-0 and 8-0 respectively. Naude’s team also romped to a 9-0 win over Curro Durbanville in their last group match. They were the only side to not drop a single point in the group stages.

“The best thing about the way we have been scoring goals is that we don’t have a single player dominating the goal scoring. It has been a team effort,” Naude said.

A testament to that is the fact that six players were on the scoresheet in Paarl Gim’s semifinal victory. Marika Neethling and Isabella Nel netted two goals apiece, and Tanya Pieterse, Anine le Roux, Anya Swanepoel, and Alanda Rademeyer struck once each.

So dominant has Paarl Gim been that the top five goal scorers in the tournament are from the team, with Marika Neethling (9), Anine le Roux (6), Karea de Ridder (6), Tanya Pieterse (6), and Alanda Rademeyer (5) leading the way.

Naude’s side has not only been outstanding in the attacking circle, but they have also been rock-solid in defence. They reached the quarterfinals without conceding a goal. In their last seven games, they have given up only two.

“Our cover defence has been really good. Our strikers are reverse-pressing well, our man-marking has been outstanding, and we have not given the opposition sides space to play. We have limited circle entries against us so much so that our ‘keeper has not had much to do,” Naude explained.

In the semifinals, Paarl Gim will square up against Clifton College. Olly Keenan’s charges earned their spot in the final four courtesy of a comfortable 5-0 win over Windhoek Gymnasium.

Meg Titcomb led the scoring with a brace and Alice Holford, Evie Edwards, and Bella Herring added a goal each.

Clifton College’s path to the semifinals was not as smooth as Paarl Gim’s. They finished second in Pool B, one point behind the pool winners, Parel Vallei, who beat Clifton 2-1 in their first game.

“We have a young squad that is not used to playing a lot together. In the first match, they were still adjusting to conditions, which wasn’t difficult because the weather here is similar to the UK in the winter,” Keenan said.

After dusting themselves down, they fired seven unanswered goals past Windhoek Afrikaanse Privaatskool. Then, on day three, after the second day had been called off because of severe storms, Clifton College recorded a 4-0 win over Hoërskool Bellville and then edged out Paarl Girls’ High 1-0 in a must-win contest to lay claim to second place.

“I think our game against Paarl Girls was our best match because we showed good game-management in a tight contest,” Keenan reckoned.

His charges will have their hands full on Sunday when they battle against Naude’s juggernaut. Keenan, however, is unfazed by Paarl Gim’s prolific scoring.

“Our goal has been to outscore our opposition in every match. We are not going to try to contain Paarl Gim. We won’t play negative hockey,” he said. “We have a side that plays fast hockey and that is how we will play against Paarl Gim. We will outscore them.”

RESULTS

Pool A

AKS Lytham 2-0 Durbanville High School
St Paul’s College 0-1 Hoërskool Kempton Park
Durbanville High School 0-1 Somerset College
AKS Lytham 1-2 St Paul’s College
Somerset College 1-0 Hoërskool Kempton Park

Pool B

Hoërskool Bellville 0-4 Clifton College
Parel Vallei 1-1 Paarl Girls’ High
Windhoek Afrikaanse Privaatskool 0-1 Hoërskool Bellville
Parel Vallei 5-0 Windhoek Afrikaanse Privaatskool
Clifton College 1-0 Paarl Girls’ High

Pool C

Curro Durbanville 0-5 Windhoek High School
Uppingham 2-0 Worcester Gymnasium
Uppingham 1-0 Curro Durbanville
Worcester Gymnasium 0-11 Paarl Gim
Windhoek High 0-2 Uppingham
Paarl Gim 9-0 Curro Durbanville

Pool D

Hoërskool Outeniqua 0–2 Springfield Convent School
Rustenburg 1–4 Chisipite
Chisipite 1–2 Windhoek Gymnasium
Rustenburg 1–1 Springfield Convent School
Rustenburg 0–4 Hoërskool Outeniqua
Windhoek Gymnasium 2–2 Springfield Convent School

Quarterfinals

Somerset College 5-2 Uppingham
Parel Vallei 2-0 Chisipite
Hoërskool Kempton Park 0-8 Paarl Gimnasium
Clifton College 5-0 Windhoek Gymnasium

After heavy rainfall resulted in day two of the Cape Town International Hockey Tournament being called off, the third day of action delivered scintillating hockey in wet conditions as four Western Cape sides booked their places in the semi-finals of the tournament on Friday afternoon.

Defending champions, South African College High School (SACS), defeated Durbanville High 7-2 in their quarterfinal. Meanwhile, Parel Vallei (PV) claimed the scalp of Repton A, beating the UK side 4-1.

Both sides from the Boland area, Paarl Gimnasium and Paul Roos Gimnasium, also secured their spots in the final four, beating Repton B 5-1 and Worcester Gimnasium 8-0 respectively.

SACS will take on coach Michael van Rensburg‘s PV side in the first semi, before a clash of the rivals when Paarl Gim and Paul Roos meet in the second semi-final on Sunday morning.

Road to the last four

To reach the last four, coach Sam Holmes’ SACS side powered their way through their pool, recording four wins and scoring 27 goals without conceding.

After impressive victories on the opening day in which they beat Windhoek Afrikaanse Privaatskool 5-0 and Bridge House 7-0, they returned on day three to put eight past Repton B, before concluding their pool obligations with a 7-0 thumping of Curro Durbanville.

Adan Thompson (2), Regan Wille (3), and Litha Kraai (3) were to the fore in their big win over Repton B, while, against Curro, Kraai and Jo le Roux both netted twice, while Aiden Hughes, Mohlodi Maseko, and Daniel Graser also got their names onto the score sheet.

In Parel Vallei, who are under the guidance of Michael van Rensburg, they come up against a team that’s hungry to cause an upset. Like their girls’ team, PV has yet to taste defeat at the tournament, and posted three wins and a draw in their four pool matches.

In their quarterfinal clash, they had to get past a gritty Repton A side, but a double from the young and exciting Luka Meets, plus further goals from Sibulele Makeleni and Tristan Rautenbach, took them to a convincing 4-1 victory.

Meanwhile, coach Michael Baker’s Paul Roos Gimnasium (PRG) young guns shrugged off their opening day defeat against Repton A, and on Friday played an exciting brand of hockey, which launched them to the top of Pool C.

In their first encounter of the day, they defeated Hoërskool Outeniqua 6-1, with skipper Christo Swanepoel and Callum van Oudtshoorn striking twice each. Seth Paterson and Logan Lackay completed the drubbing.

Then, a 2-1 win over Somerset College set them up for a date with Worcester Gimnasium in the last eight.

PRG started slowly, but then dialled up the intensity to power their way to an 8-0 quarterfinals’ win.

Swanepoel, who represented the Boland u18A side at the SASHOC National Week and was selected for the SA Schools u17 side, scored a hattrick. Ruben Gouws, Ruan Strauss, Charles Lombard, Tylor Carter and Van Oudtshoorn netted the other goals.

Standing in their way for a place in the title-decider is coach Jacques Grobler’s Paarl Gimnasium team.

They’ve been one of the standout sides of the tournament and finished the pool stage with an unbeaten record, scoring 18 times while conceding only twice.

Gimmies, captained by LD Nel, beat Durbanville 1-0 on Friday before ruthlessly thumping Uppingham 5-0.

Gim dangerman, Juan Swanepoel, who this week was named in the Namibia u18A side, scored three goals in the two matches.

In the quarterfinal vs Repton B, Gim trailed 0-1 early on, but a Stephan Pieterse hattrick and goals from Nel and Johann van der Merwe sealed a comfortable 5-1 win for coach Grobler’s troops.

The action resumes on Sunday in Stellenbosch with SACS, Parel Vallei, Paul Roos and Paarl Gim all eyeing a place in the final and an opportunity to claim the silverware.

RESULTS – DAY THREE

Pool A

Windhoek High School 1-1 Worcester Gymnasium
Parel Vallei 3-0 Paarl Boys High
Worcester Gymnasium 7-0 Stewart’s Melville College
Paarl Boys High 1-0 Windhoek High School
Parel Vallei 6-0 Stewart’s Melville College

Pool B

SACS 8-0 Repton B
Windhoek Afrikaanse Privaatskool 4-0 Bridge House
SACS 7-0 Curro Durbanville
Repton B 6-1 Bridge House
Curro Durbanville 2-2 Windhoek Afrikaanse Privaatskool

Pool C

Repton A 2-0 Reddam House Constantia
Paul Roos Gimnasium 6-1 Hoërskool Outeniqua
Somerset College 4-3 Repton A
Paul Roos Gimnasium 2-1 Somerset College
Hoërskool Outeniqua 3-3 Reddam House Constantia 

Pool D

Uppingham 3-0 Windhoek Gymnasium
Durbanville High 1-0 Western Province Invitational
Paarl Gimnasium 1-0 Durbanville High
Western Province Invitational 1-0 Windhoek Gymnasium
Paarl Gimnasium 6-0 Uppingham

Quarterfinal results

Parel Vallei 4-1 Repton A
SACS 7-2 Durbanville High
Worcester Gimnasium 0-8 Paul Roos
Paarl Gimnasium 5-1 Repton B

Semi-final fixtures

10:10 – SACS vs Parel Vallei @Maties A
10:10 – Paul Roos vs Paarl Gimnasium @Maties B
17:40 – Final @Maties A

Click the link for all the fixtures: Cape Town International Hockey Tournament

The images used in the article are credited to Ray Chaplin. For more information about Ray Chaplin, please visit: https://yourphotos.raychaplin.photography/

Somerset College and Parel Vallei were the first sides to book semifinals spots at the Cape Town International Hockey Festival on Friday.

The event kicked off on Wednesday, 10 July, and the semifinals and final will be held on Sunday, 14 July.

Somerset College secured their place with a 5-2 win over UK-based Uppingham in the last eight, while Parel Vallei overcame Zimbabwe’s Chisipite 2-0 in their quarterfinals’ clash.

“I am ecstatic for the team. We did not have the best preparation for the tournament and for the girls to fight like this is wonderful for me to see,” Kyran Fortuin, the Somerset College coach, shared after the match.

The side had managed only a single training session ahead of the tournament, with the team’s players dealing with exams and then holidays in the lead-up to the showpiece.

In addition to that, Somerset was missing their talisman captain, Julia Brown, who sustained a toe injury at the SASHOC U18 National Week. In her absence, Lara Gouws, the vice-captain, has taken over the leadership reins.

In the first chukka, Somerset fell 0-1 down, but Gouws showed her leadership acumen as she rallied her side. They bounced back and equalised, before running away with the win. Gouws, who is in grade 10, led the side with a brace, while Annabelle Hamel, Siena Kontopirakis, and Evi Benson also scored as Fortuin’s side rallied and roared their way to an emphatic victory.

“Special mention should also go to Jessica du Toit and Caroline Morris,” Fortuin said. “They were outstanding in all the matches we played. Jessica held the defence together, while Caroline was at the heart of all our moves. She is an exceptional ball carrier.”

Fortuin’s charges are peaking at the right time. They started their campaign with a scrappy 1-1 draw against St Paul’s College, of Windhoek, but then recorded three wins on the bounce.

They defeated the English side, AKS Lytham, 2-0 to close out day one on four points. That victory was followed with a pair of 1-0 wins over Durbanville High School and Hoërskool Kempton Park respectively. That brought their total to 10 points and the top spot in Pool A.

Parel Vallei punched their ticket to the last four with a solid 2-0 win over Chisipite after a tightly contested tie. Jarred Pitout’s side has conceded only two goals in the tournament so far.

“We came into the tournament prepared and in high spirits and with a positive outlook. Our first match set the tone,” Pitout said.

The Jordan Boer-captained team overcame Bristol’s Clifton College 2-1 in their opener and didn’t look back from there. They registered a 3-0 win over Hoërskool Bellville to finish the day in second place in Pool B. On day three, they were held to a 1-1 draw by their neighbours, Paarl Girls’ High, before an emphatic 5-0 win over Windhoek Afrikaanse Privaatskool fired them to the top of the Pool B standings.

“The girls stuck to the gameplan really well when we faced Chisipite in the quarterfinals,” Pitout explained. “Chisipite is very good on the counter, so we had to make sure that we were solid at the back.”

Parel Vallei’s success has been led by outstanding performances from their skipper Jordan Boer and Eva Blaauw, and they were, once again, to the fore in the quarterfinals. They managed the game well, providing a solid platform for Parel Vallei’s dynamic forwards to run at the opposition, and it paid off. Michaela Birch and Grace Taylor converted two opportunities into goals to put them through to the last four.

Parel Vallei takes on Somerset College in the semifinals in a mouthwatering tie that will be a rematch of a league game in which Pitout’s side triumphed 1-0.

In the other semi-final, Paarl Gimnasium, who have been in imperious form, take on Clifton College. Both romped to big wins in their quarterfinal clashes. Gimmies outplayed Hoërskool Kempton Park 8-0 and Clifton defeated Windhoek Gymnasium 5-0.

RESULTS

Pool A

AKS Lytham 2-0 Durbanville High School
St Paul’s College 0-1 Hoërskool Kempton Park
Durbanville High School 0-1 Somerset College
AKS Lytham 1-2 St Paul’s College
Somerset College 1-0 Hoërskool Kempton Park

Pool B

Hoërskool Bellville 0-4 Clifton College
Parel Vallei 1-1 Paarl Girls’ High
Windhoek Afrikaanse Privaatskool 0-1 Hoërskool Bellville
Parel Vallei 5-0 Windhoek Afrikaanse Privaatskool
Clifton College 1-0 Paarl Girls’ High

Pool C

Curro Durbanville 0-5 Windhoek High School
Uppingham 2-0 Worcester Gymnasium
Uppingham 1-0 Curro Durbanville
Worcester Gymnasium 0–11 Paarl Gim
Windhoek High 0–2 Uppingham
Paarl Gim 9-0 Curro Durbanville

Pool D

Hoërskool Outeniqua 0–2 Springfield Convent School
Rustenburg 1-4 Chisipite
Chisipite 1-2 Windhoek Gymnasium
Rustenburg 1-1 Springfield Convent School
Rustenburg 0-4 Hoërskool Outeniqua
Windhoek Gymnasium 2-2 Springfield Convent School

Quarterfinals
Somerset College 5-2 Uppingham
Parel Vallei 2-0 Chisipite
Hoërskool Kempton Park 0-8 Paarl Gimnasium
Clifton College 5-0 Windhoek Gymnasium

The action in the second edition of the Kearsney Soccer Tournament started bright and early in Botha’s Hill on Friday morning, with the hosts playing to a 1-1 draw with Paul Roos Gimnasium, while Pinetown posted a 2-0 victory over Northwood.

That was the start of a very good day for Pinetown, who didn’t concede a single goal in the Matterson Field Group and also claimed three wins.

They followed up their victory over the Knights with a 3-0 defeat of Maqhutshana 1 and a 1-0 win over Tuks, last year’s beaten finalists.

Catch the action LIVE on SuperSport Schools

It wasn’t a good day for Tuks, who were held to a 1-1 draw by Maqhutshana 1 and were also beaten 2-0 by Northwood.

Siyajabula enjoyed a strong start in the group, powering their way to a 4-0 victory over Ashton International Ballito, which they followed up with a 2-0 win over Lebone II College.

Lebone, from Rustenburg, sneaked a 4-3 victory over Clifton College in a thrilling opener for both teams. The Durban school was involved in a second goal-fest later in the day, but they held on for a 3-2 win over Ashton.

Durban High School (DHS), who lost 0-5 to Tuks in their opener in 2023, before upsetting the same team 1-0 in the final, enjoyed a much better start to their 2024 challenge. Faced with a tricky opener, they recorded a 2-1 win over Gqeberha’s Urban Academy.

Later in the day, they dominated against Curro Hazeldean, but had to settle for just a 1-0 victory.

The hosts, Kearsney, who are also in the Roberts Field Group, had a good day. After their draw with Paul Roos, they beat Maqhutshana 2 3-1 and completed their assignments with a convincing 4-0 defeat of Thomas More College.

Paul Roos, who claimed the Plate at the Kloof High School Football Tournament, just down the road, in mid-June, after scoring twice in the last five minutes against Pinetown, overran Thomas More 6-0.

In the girls’ competition, St Mary’s DSG grabbed a 2-1 win over Curro Hazeldean in their 08:00 opener, but later cruised to a 4-0 win over Durban Girls’ High.

Kloof High won twice, too, beating Lebone II College 2-0 and Ashton 2-1.

Danville Park remains undefeated, but not perfect, after a 1-1 draw with Curro Hazeldean and a 1-0 defeat of Durban Girls’ High.

It was a busy day for the boys’ primary school teams, with 10 matches being played.

Highbury Prep, a leading feeder school for Kearsney, was one of the top performers, with their A team scoring eight goals while conceding only one, in two victories.

Their rivals from Pietermaritzburg, Merchiston Prep, also went two for two, beating the Highbury Prep B team comfortably, before being pushed hard by Hillcrest Primary.

RESULTS

Boys’ High School

Roberts Field

Kearsney 1-1 Paul Roos
DHS 2-1 Urban Academy
Thomas More 2-5 Maqhutshana 2
Sutherland 1-1 Curro Hazeldean
Kearsney 3-1 Maqhutshana 2
DHS 1-0 Curro Hazeldean
Thomas More 0-6 Paul Roos
Urban Academy 2-1 Sutherland
Kearsney 4-0 Thomas More

Matterson Field

Pinetown 2-0 Northwood
Lebone II College 4-3 Clifton College
Tuks 1-1 Maqhutshana 1
Siyajabula 4-0 Ashton
Pinetown 3-0 Maqhutshana 1
Lebone II College 0-2 Siyajabula
Northwood 2-0 Tuks
Clifton College 3-2 Ashton
Pinetown 1-0 Tuks

Girls’ High School

St Mary’s DSG 2-1 Curro Hazeldean
Ashton 2-0 Thomas More
Kloof High 2-0 Lebone II College
Curro Hazeldean 1-1 Danville Park
Thomas More 2-1 Lebone II College
Durban Girls’ High 0-4 St Mary’s DSG
Ashton 1-2 Kloof High
Danville Park 1-0 Durban Girls’ High

Boys’ Primary School

Ashton Ballito 1-0 Thomas More
Atholl Heights 1-2 Reddam Ballito
Highbury Prep A 3-0 Kloof Senior Primary
Hillcrest Primary 2-3 Merchiston Prep
Kloof Senior Primary 2-2 Ashton Ballito
Atholl Heights 1-4 Hillcrest Primary
Thomas More 3-1 Winston Park
Reddam Ballito 1-2 Highbury Prep B
Highbury Prep A 5-1 Winston Park
Highbury Prep B 0-3 Merchiston Prep

Menlopark het ‘n bedrywige seisoen agter die rug, waartydens hulle die Paarl Gimnasium Netbalfees, NWU-reeks en Irene Seymore-toernooi gewen het. Hulle het ook tweede geëindig in die Gauteng-uitspele en derde by die Wildeklawer-toernooi.

Minette Boshoff, die span se kaptein, spog met 100 wedstryde en is nou eers in graad 11, terwyl Lente Kroukamp die SA o.17-span verteenwoordig het.

Met soveel titels op hul kerfstok, word daar hoë verwagtinge gekoester vir Menlo hierdie naweek by die DStv Schools Netball Challenge. Hulle doelwit is natuurlik om op die podium te eindig.

Menlo voel nietemin dat die Afrikaanse Hoër Meisieskool (Affies), Paarl Gimnasium en Meisieskool Oranje altyd die hardste en moeilikste opposisie bied.

Die eerste span: Amy van Staden (aanvallende vleuel), Marisa van den Berg (verdedigende vleuel), Minette Boshoff (senter), Cellonika van den Berg (hulpdoelverdediger), Lente Kroukamp (hulpdoel), Lua Neeb (hulpdoelverdediger), Gabby Smith (doel), Lisa van Vuuren (verdediger), Ghitte Wiid (verdediger).

Hoërskool Klerksdorp is slaggereed om hierdie naweek die sterkste skole aan te vat met konstruktiewe netbal, en om elke wedstryd wat hulle speel op meriete aan te pak.

Volgens hulle bied elke skool wat vir die DStv Schools Netball Challenge gekwalifiseer het strawwe kompetisie, en sal slegs die span wat die beste gekondisioneer is, fisies sowel as sielkundig, bo uitkom.

Ervaring speel ook ‘n belangrike rol, en Laurike Mynhardt en Liane Engelbrecht het albei reeds meer as 50 wedstryde vir Klerksdorp se eerste span gespeel.

Die afrigtingspan: Merinda du Preez, Michelle Pretorius.

Die eerste span : Laurike Mynhardt (doel), Chiara Vermeulen(hulpdoel),  Liane Engelbrecht (aanvallende vleuel), Chene Coetzee (senter), Julindi Wilkens (verdedigende vleuel), Jenna van Dyk (hulpdoelverdediger), Jay-Lee Mayo (verdediger), Thelane Joubert (hulpdoelverdediger).

Pretoria Boys High will have their work cut out for them when they take on a KES side, which has shown its class throughout the season, on Saturday.

The Candies are the visiting side and will be eager to snag an upset on the Red Army‘s home turf, although that is a very stiff challenge.

In the first meeting of the schools earlier in the season, KES won 24-14 on Brooks Field.

Kick-off is at 13:30 on Reds Field. Catch all of the action live on SuperSport Schools.

Pretoria Boys also lost on both occasions last year, going down 23-32 and 19-28. KES has compiled a strong season in 2024, but coach Marco Engelbrecht hopes his side will produce a smooth performance after the long school holidays and not be rusty.

King Edward will be playing close to their strongest XV, although standout flank James Kobrowisky will be missing. Several players are making a return to the side after spending time on the sidelines with injuries. Captain and hooker Esethu Mnebelele, who was also named the captain of the South African Schools side, returns to action after being forced to miss time with an ankle injury which healed just before the Stadio Craven Week.

He and his props, Connor White and Frank van der Merwe, give the Red Army a solid front row, which will present Boys High with a tough challenge.

The KES lineup includes three South African Schools’ players, with Mnebelele, who also made the team in 2023, being joined in the side by flyhalf Vusi Moyo and eighthman Kebotile Maake.

Moyo, with his keen tactical awareness and educated boot, is a joy to watch in the number 10 jersey. Seth Venter, from Boys High, will face a challenging match-up opposite Moyo, but the former flank will enjoy the opportunity of trying to shut down his opposite number, who recently signed a contract with the Sharks.

Boys High’s winger Ntsako Ndlovu was named in the South African Schools A squad after sparkling for the Blue Bulls at the Craven Week. He was part of the team that edged out the Golden Lions 35-34 in a thriller. He is blessed with pace and will be itching for a bit of space to have a crack and show off that blazing speed.

Rickus Wessels is still out injured for the Candies, with Tyler Mason replacing him at inside centre position.

The Boys High coaching staff has not been shy about mixing it up in the backline this season, with several of the players playing multiple positions, including scrumhalf Tumisho Motswi, who has also featured at fullback.

Motswi and flank Akin Akingbola were member of the Bulls u17A team, which won the Rhino Week Rugby Tournament during the holidays.

For many of the matric players, this will be their final match against their rivals. Neither team will be holding anything back and, while Pretoria Boys High are the underdogs, they will view the contest as an opportunity to break their losing streak against their Johannesburg opposition.

FIXTURES

u14A: 9:00 – King Edward VII vs Pretoria Boys High School (John Hurry 1)
u15A: 09:50 – King Edward VII vs Pretoria Boys High School (John Hurry 2)
u16A: 11:00 – King Edward VII vs Pretoria Boys High School (Reds Field)
u19B: 12:15 – King Edward VII vs Pretoria Boys High School (Reds Field)
u19A: 13:30 – King Edward VII vs Pretoria Boys High School (Reds Field)

Teams

King Edward VI: 15 Mbuso Methula, 14 Ntsako Shivuri , 13 Olunje Mehlomakulu, 12 Tristan Maugeri, 11 Haniel Monkoti , 10 Vusi Moyo, 9 Regan McGurk, 8 Chinedu Amadi, 7 Sam Bruwer, 6 Kebotile Maake (vc), 5 Michael Bownes, 4 Thomas Beling, 3 Nathan Frank vd Merwe, 2 Esethu Mnebelele, 1 Connor White.

Pretoria Boys High School: Pretoria Boys High School: 15 Itu Baloyi, 14 Ntsako Ndlovu, 13 Motheo Dimpe, 12 Tyler Mason, 11 Ompfuna Tsanwani, 10 Seth Venter, 9 Tumisho Motswi, 8 Katlego Shebu, 7 Akin Akingbola, 6 Panyaiotis Ellinas, 5 Tshepiso Shikhibana, 4 Stephen Adams, 3 Ofentse Moeng, 2 Thapelo Mphela, 1 Jeffery Singo.